Davao Flash Flood Kills 29, Leaves 12,714 Families Homeless

The death toll from flash floods that hit Davao City following heavy rains last Tuesday rose to 29 as of Thursday evening, a military official said.The last to be recovered was the body of four-year-old Cherry Saturos, while two persons — three-month-old Mark Louie Falomar and 34-year-old Zaldy Supa - have yet to be found as of 7:30 p.m. Thursday, according to Maj. Jacob Thaddeus Obligado, commander of the 10th Civil Military Operations battalion.

In its 6 p.m. update, The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said 12,714 families were affected in Talomo Proper, Matina Crossing, Matina, Pangi and Matina Aplaya villages.

It said that as of Thursday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development provided family food packs to the affected families.

Also, the DSWD conducted critical incident stress debriefing and deployed social workers to the evacuation centers and funeral parlors.

"According to the affected residents, it was the first time they experienced floodwaters that is more or less 10 feet deep. The floodwaters subsided at 5:00 AM 29 June 2011," the NDRRMC said.